Alex Atamanenko, MP, BC Southern Interior and NDP Agriculture critic says that the funding announced yesterday in the Conservative budget, now likely to pass with support from the Liberal Party, is not nearly enough to address the chronic problems associated with farm income. “I am concerned that out of the $500Million announced for an agricultural flexibility program only $190Million appears to be new money,” stated Atamanenko. “Once you spread this amount across the entire country it is impossible to see this as little more than a token gesture.
Atamanenko says there does not seem to be any indication that the income crisis facing cattle producers has been meaningfully addressed in this budget. “There is nothing to indicate that the $50 Million to develop slaughterhouse capacity will wrestle economic power away from the monopoly of meat packing companies and direct it toward cattle producers.”
According to Atamanenko there is no clear vision from government on how to empower farmers in the marketplace nor is there anything to support small farmers or organic producers to fulfill the rapidly growing demand for locally produced and sustainably grown food. “There is no mention of renewing and expanding the funding for the Canadian Co-operative Development Initiative or the Agricultural Co-operative Development Initiative. “Co-operatives are business model that have been proven to result in more job creation and strengthened communities,” stated Atamanenko.
Atamanenko also expressed disappointment that a commitment to Farmers Market Canada has not been renewed in the Conservative budget. “Here is an initiative where the groundwork has been laid and all that is needed is a nominal funding commitment before benefits can begin to flow to hundreds of farmers’ markets across Canada,” said the NDP Agriculture Critic.
Now that the Liberal Party has abandoned the option of participating in a collaborative government with the opposition parties a prime opportunity has been lost to take agriculture policies into a direction that will truly benefit farming communities. “I remain committed to ensure that the issues affecting our producers are given priority at every opportunity in the next round of Parliament,” concluded Atamanenko.